TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

ABOUT THE PRODUCT:

What is the Todagres Technical Porcelain?
The Todagres Technical Porcelain is a ceramic product that is not glazed, is colored throughout its mass, and has technical characteristics (hardness, resistance to frost, to traffic, to cleaning products) that make it the best choice.

What is Porcelain?
Porcelain receives different names: Todagres Technical Porcelain, porcelain tiles, porcellanato tiles, compact, porcelanato. All these names refer to the same product.

Can the Todagres Technical Porcelain burn?
No. The Todagres Technical Porcelain is fireproof and meets the safety requirements for installing in public or private places.

How many different finishes does the Todagres Technical Porcelain have?
The Todagres Technical Porcelain is available in natural finish (matte,) polished (gloss,) non-slip, imitation of slate, stone, cement, or clay, and Special Traffic (special relief for blind persons.)

Where can I buy this product?
In over 700 outlets throughout Spain and at major international distributors.

Does the glossy or polished finish get scratched?
Despite its elevated hardness and its similarity to any product already whether it is ceramic or not that is polished, porcelain can get scratched with time. If we do not pay attention and do not use some minimal care (use of doormats at access points) it can gradually lose its initial gloss. If it is maintained with care, we are confident that you will enjoy the gloss and luminosity of this finish for many years.

Can the Todagres Technical Porcelain be polished again in-situ?
No. This product needs more than 56 polishing heads during its manufacture in order to obtain the final gloss (due to its elevated hardness.) At present, there is no machinery for polishing such materials on-site.

Is the polished finish slippery?
The polished finish is not slippery on its own. Only if there is a carrier (water or dust) it can be slippery just as any other material of similar characteristics (marble, granite, stoneware, continuous flooring, resin compounds…) Therefore, we recommend cleaning any liquid or sandy residue and, in critical places, using non-slip rugs to prevent slips.

Can the Todagres Technical Porcelain get stained?
The Todagres Technical Porcelain has virtually zero porosity (with a value of 0.02%.) Due to this characteristic, it is difficult that it can get stained. However, with the polished or glossy finish, if we leave a residue on the surface for a long time, it can get stained. Nowadays, 95% of stains can be cleaned without leaving deposits. Please see the stain type table.

I have an elegant Todagres Technical Porcelain floor and each piece is different; How can that be?
Todagres has developed exclusive series such as the PALAZZO Series, the IMPERIAL Series, or the ZEN Series in which the objective is to offer an infinite variety of each design, each piece is different from the others, achieving customized spaces and endowing the ceramic with the appeal of marbles and stones. It is a notable difference with other firms, which cannot offer this type of technology to its consumers.

BEFORE INSTALLING:

Can the Todagres Technical Porcelain be used as flooring and wall covering?
Yes. The Todagres Technical Porcelain is a product that can be used both as flooring and as wall covering. And thus, with a complete guarantee, the beauty of the covered spaces is increased, since we offer a feeling of continuity.

Can I install a polished Porcelain (glossy) as outdoor flooring?
You can, but it is not recommended. The glossy surface is polished and favors sliding if there is water, dust, or another carrier. Todagres has a wide range to combine the suitable product and finish for each specific space or needs. This is why we have the same models with different finishes (matte, glossy, non-slip)

What do I have to keep in mind before installing the Todagres Technical Porcelain?
The surface to cover must be flat, solid, and free from substances that hinder adhesion: dust, plaster remains, paint… In case of crumbling, it must be repaired and a suitable surface must be obtained. The surface to cover must be calculated in square meters, including an additional percentage of 1% for cuts or future replacements.

Is it necessary to design joints for a proper installation?
Any surface has movements that make it advisable to leave a joint (of at least 2 mm) between pieces. If we do not leave this joint, the pieces might come out or their ends might break. There are several types of joints to take into account: Perimeter Joints (joints that the room to cover has or pillars.) Structural Joints (designed by the architect or specialist engineer, during the planning of the building.) Expansion Joints (it is recommended to place a special joint at intervals to absorb expansion movements.) Grout Joints (which are those that surround the pieces and offer greater safety to any structural or expansion movement.)

DURING INSTALLATION:

Can I install Porcelain products with cement and sand mortar?
Porcelain products are characterized for their low porosity, which gives the pieces excellent resistance to bending, frost… The cement and sand mortar, also known as “traditional mortar,” acts through a mechanical bond system that is not useful for installing porcelain materials. Porcelain has virtually no porosity so that, when the piece comes in contact with the mortar, the water containing the elements (aluminosilicates, trisilicates…) that will subsequently crystallize (setting) forming “needles” inside the piece, and thus bonding it on the substrate, cannot penetrate. In order to obtain a quality installation with good adhesion with the porcelain, we recommend using cement-based adhesives with type C2 mixed binders, according to the standard EN 12004 “Adhesives for ceramic tiles, definitions, and specifications.”

Can I install the Porcelain with any cement-based adhesive?
No. The recommended cement-based adhesive for the correct installation of the porcelain is the cement-based adhesive with mixed binders (cement-based adhesive with polymer additive.) This type of cement-based adhesive contains in its formulation a mix of cement, selected aggregates, organic and inorganic additives, and a high resin content (polymer: e.g. latex…) and guarantees a full adhesion on the porcelain surface. Currently, there are several types of cement-based adhesives or mortar-based adhesives in the market. The most important ones are traditional cement-based adhesive, high-performance cement-based adhesive, cement-based adhesive with mixed binders. Traditional and high-performance cement-based adhesives have in their formulation a mixture of cement, selected aggregates, and organic and inorganic additives to improve plasticity and adhesion. These types of cement-based adhesives do not guarantee a complete bond or adherence of porcelain products.

Do I need to install grouting joints between the tiles?
PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS These joints absorb the strains produced in the substrate and thus prevent tensions from being transmitted on the ceramic pieces. They prevent and moderate the creation of important traction stresses at the bottom of the substrates when they are subjected to loads. Stoneware or glazed ceramic materials are impermeable to liquid water and water vapor. This is why it is the grouting joints the ones that are involved in transporting water through surfaces covered with ceramic tiles. It is important that the grouting material fulfills its role for diffusing vapor from the inside to the outside of the wall and preventing the penetration of liquid water towards the inside. This is because an excessive amount of water coming from the outside can damage both the adhesive and the substrate. We must take into account that the grouting material is exposed to the same environmental and chemical attacks as the tiles, and therefore it should have a certain resistance to chemical attack. Installing grouting joints with a minimum width of 2 mm is always advisable. This type of joint complies with important physical and aesthetic functions. AESTHETIC FUNCTIONS The joints between tiles, both in flooring and wall coverings, have an important aesthetic function, enhancing the inherent beauty of ceramic tiles. These joints produce a grid and modulation effect, which manifests as an emphasis of the textural values of the ceramic-tile-covered surface. Another type of aesthetic component is the type of finish of the joints. These finishes can be flush flat or recessed curved. • Flat finishes, which are very frequent, are done by leveling the material with the exposed edges of the tiles (recommended for natural and polished products.) • The recessed curved ones are done either with the traditional method of going over the joints with the fingertips or using a circular section rubber to go over them (recommended for rustic products.) An important function of the joints is to balance out or absorb slight dimensional deviations in the ceramic tiles, generated in any production process. Installation of ceramic tiles without grouting joints is not recommended from any technical standpoint because of the risks it implies of producing pathological conditions in floors and wall coverings. This is because the substrates are generally not completely stable and can undergo dimensional variations. Without grouting joints, the grouting material does not penetrate completely and does not make contact with the bonding material, remaining adhered to the outside edges of the tiles. This weak coverage will gradually come off because of differential movements or other external actions and leaves the gaps between tiles exposed.

How can I control the joint size during installation?
With the use of “spacers,” available in different sizes, we can produce a grid and modulation effect that can be modified by varying the width and color. For a polished finish, we recommend a joint with 2 to 4 mm of separation. When mixing polished and natural finishes, leave 5-6 mm of separation.

It is advisable to soak the Todagres Technical Porcelain tiles before installing?
No. This operation is only recommended for highly porous ceramic products. When installing highly porous materials with sand and cement mortar, it is advisable to previously wet the back of the tile. No. This type of joint has micronized coal in its formulation, which is not easy to attack and which penetrates the superficial pores of polished porcelain tiles and is very difficult to remove. This fact allows the pieces to be saturated and to not absorb water during installation from the mortar contained in the layer closest to the piece; which is required for crystallization (setting) of the elements that make it up.

Which are the right tools for cutting the Todagres Technical Porcelain?
In order to carry out straight cuts on the pieces, we can use: a Manual cutting machine with widia disc. Water-cooled diamond blade machine. Low-power radial machine (500-700 W) equipped with a continuous diamond blade (not segmented.) For other layouts in order to go around pillars, doors… we can use the following equipment: Water-cooled diamond blade machine. Low-power radial machine (500-700 W) equipped with a continuous diamond blade (not segmented.)

Which are the right tools for drilling the Todagres Technical Porcelain?
In order to drill or make holes in the porcelain, we recommend that the installed piece is well adhered. It is necessary that the drilling takes place after waiting for at least 24 hours after installing so that the bonding material is dry. We can use electric drills with widia bit, in hammer mode, and the drilling area must be cooled with water periodically in order to prevent the increase of temperature in it and the bit from melting. Nowadays there are also diamond bits that are ideal for drilling this type of material. We recommend using electric drills without hammer mode.

AFTER INSTALLING:

After installing, do I need to carry out a specific cleaning treatment?
After installing ceramic materials there is always a thin surface layer of cement on the pieces, which contributes to the retention of dirt and interferes with the actual gloss of polished products. We recommend carrying out a cleaning treatment with a descaler (acidic solutions) in order to remove existing debris on both the natural and polished porcelain. The advice and instructions of the manufacturer of these chemical products must be observed.

Is it advisable to use a hydrochloric acid-based cement remover?
No. Nowadays many manufacturers of chemical products have descalers or cement removers formulated with other types of acids (organic acids) so that they can be used without problems. Hydrochloric acid-based cement removers can damage the metals that are close to the point of application. Hydrochloric acid is composed of an acid hydrochloric solution and can also contain traces of hydrofluoric acid, which is capable of damaging any ceramic product.

What maintenance does the Todagres Technical Porcelain need once it is installed?
For a better, longer conservation, we recommend using door mats in the entrances to the floored spaces, especially when it is polished finished porcelain, and removing residues from its surface. For daily cleaning, we recommend using your usual detergent (one that does not contain oils, waxes, or hydrofluoric acid as they are not necessary) and rinsing with clean water; the use of an ammonia squirt is always helpful. If you wish to use bleach, it is perfectly appropriate to use without affecting the product.

Which product is most suitable for the daily cleaning of Todagres Technical Porcelain?
You can perfectly use ammonia or ammonia cleaning products for the cleaning daily of this type of material. Ammonia solutions are very advisable for the daily maintenance of porcelain products and are also useful for the removal of small traces of grease… without entailing any risk during their use. If we find isolated stains we recommend using appropriate cleaning products, depending on the nature of the stain, in order to remove them.

How can I clean polished materials?
To simply remove environmental dust, wipe with a dry dust mop without waxy additives. For cleaning daily of polished porcelain materials we recommend washing with an ammonia solution using a mop. We can go over twice: the first time normal with more water, and the second time wringing the mop out more. After applying the wash water, it is necessary to wait until the surface of the material is almost dry and then eliminate them remains with a dry mop without applying waxy products. The objective is to eliminate the debris and dirt retained in the wash water, because if they are left on the surface they block the real gloss of the polished pieces.

I have Todagres Technical Porcelain installed at home; how can I remove oil and grease remains?
Nowadays there are various special products sold for cleaning the remains of grease and oils. If they are minor remains, we can eliminate them without problems using an ammonia solution. On the other hand, if the remains are strong we must resort to appropriate cleaning products. There are several cleaners or “floor cleaners” in the market with an appropriate formulation for removing this type of dirt (grease, oil…) Sometimes, for fear of using certain cleaning products, we use simply water. Water on its own does not remove this type of agents, as its chemical characteristics do not allow it. We recommend using products that contain 2 types of surfactants in their composition: anionic surfactants and not Ionic surfactants, which will facilitate the removal of grease and oils. These data appear on the label on the back of the bottle. The greater the percentage of these surfactants, the greater the cleaning power. Their percentages tend to be around 5-15%. Note: If what you want to is disinfect, you must use a cleaner or “floor cleaner” that contains cationic surfactants.

Is it advisable to apply a layer of wax on the Todagres Technical Porcelain?
The gloss is actually increased slightly, but this leads to a serious problem: it stains more easily. The wax deposits on the material and the traffic itself leaves prints marked throughout the surface. It does not mean that the ceramic material has stained, but that the surface layer of wax has stained, which retains external agents quite easily. In order to remove unwanted wax applications, we recommend applying a specific alkaline surfactant cleaning product or an organic solvent, although the first is preferable due to its application requirements. With the use of any of these two products, we will be able to break the bonds between the wax and the tile. No. Wax or wax-containing products are not recommended because they present considerable problems. There are many products currently on the market that contain waxes (auto-polishing waxes…) that allow increasing the gloss of the coverings in a fake way. When we apply a wax, it creates a layer on the surface of materials, which reduces the micro-coarseness and increases the reflection of light, thus increasing the gloss.

I have installed polished Todagres Technical Porcelain in a store; is it advisable to place a doormat at the entrance?
Yes. By placing a doormat, you are protecting the polished porcelain and thus increasing its durability and maintaining the desired look. The placement of doormats in direct entrances from outer areas to facilities where the flooring is polished porcelain is very common. While walking outside some sand might get stuck to the bottom of your shoes; the doormat will hold the minerals that might be on your shoe sole and will thus prevent them from coming in contact with the ceramic material.

Todagres uses its own and third-party cookies to improve the browsing experience and obtain statistical information on the use of our visitors. If you continue browsing, we consider that you accept the conditions of use. See policy.